After completing a degree in sculpture and photography, he worked as an apprentice to a master builder. For over ten years he specialized in high end residential projects in some of NYC most famous addresses. At the same time he was taken on as a student of a Zen monk and studied in a monastery for seven years. This afforded him an understanding of both the “way in which things are made” and “how beliefs are put into practice.”
In 2013, Marelli was awarded membership to the Explorer’s Club as a Cultural Photographer. The club rewards members whose pioneering efforts re-define the global landscape, underpinned through their respective expertise. Marelli’s contributions have been deemed worthy of the club’s mission which is to “...leave humankind a legacy of discovery and achievement for the 21st century.”